DDLab DOS readme: May 2016 update
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This versions of DDLab was compiled for DOS
with Open Watcom C/C++ version 1.9, in Windows7
ddlabz04_dos32.tar.gz will unpack to give
ddlabz04_dos32.exe, dos4gw.exe, *.fon files and GNU_GPL_3.txt.
dos4gw.exe and *.fon files must be
in the same directory as the DDLab executable.
The DOS versions of DDLab can be run in pure DOS, or in the command
line window for earlier Windows releases. For more recent Windows
releases (e.g, Windows7) it can be run in DOSBox (an MS-DOS emulator).
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Notes on running DDLab in DOSBox in Windows7
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Having installed DOSBox, double click on the DOSBox icon.
In the DOSBox terminal with the prompt Z:\>, enter ...
mount c c:\watcom\ddlabz04\ (or the subdirectory with the DDLab files)
the response will be ...
Drive C is mounted as local directory c:\watcom\ddlabz04\
enter c:
Z:\> changes to C:\>
enter the DDLab executable file name, without ".exe"
ddlabz04_dos32 (this starts ddlab in a new window in low res,
which can be reset to medium or high)
Alternatively, first change to the subdirectory to "ddfiles"
then enter the name of the executable preceded by ..\
This will keep files generated by DDLab in the ddfiles subdirectory.
note: dos4gw.exe and *.fon files must also be in "ddfiles"
In low res, the DDLab pointer should be visible, confined in the DDLab window.
If the pointer is missing or immobile, press the right mouse button
and it should reappear.
In medium and high res, the mouse pointer is invisible.
After exiting DDLab, the pointer in the DOSBox terminal
might disappear -- to fix enter Ctl-Alt-Del and select "cancel",
the pointer should reappear.
To exit the DOSBox terminal enter "exit"
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To run DDLab for earlier versions of Windows (prior to Windows 7),
(or in pure DOS) open a terminal, and from the directory with the DDLab
files, enter the name of the executable, or the name preceded by .\
.\ddlabz04_dos32
Alternatively, first change to the subdirectory to "ddfiles"
then enter the name of the executable preceded by ..\
This will keep files generated by DDLab in the ddfiles subdirectory.
note: dos4gw.exe and *.fon files must also be in "ddfiles"
DDLab will start in low resolution 640x480.
To toggle to full screen and back enter Alt+Enter.
In full screen you can change to higher resolution
1024x768 (or medium res 800x600), but change back
to low before exiting DDLab.
Earlier versions of windows (up to 1998) have an alternative
DOS operating system; the DOS version of DDLab runs better in that.
Note:
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Because DDLab for DOS has a few drawbacks, Windows users might
consider these alternatives:
> the Cygwin/X version of DDLab, Cygwin/X is a Linux environment for
Windows (actually this is slow when I tried).
> The VMware Player allows running the Linux version of DDLab in a
virtual machine within Windows. Once the VMware Player is installed
(free for private use) the Linux version of DDLab can be installed on
the virtual machine in the usual way.
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